The Green Party has won the local council by-election in Warton, with candidate Sue Tyldesley elected with 452 votes, taking the majority of votes.
The election saw an increased turnout of voters, and a large upturn in a percentage of votes for the local Green candidate, up from 33 per cent in 2019 to over 65 per cent in this ballot.
The by-election for a new councillor followed the resignation of Conservative councillor, Adrian De La Mare, in August. The Conservative candidate, Iain Scott Harbison, secured just 169 votes; Faith Kenrick, Labour, 44; Jane Parsons, Liberal Democrats, 22.
Sue, who lives in Yealand, a former Head of Development Control at Sefton Council, is well-known in the area. A volunteer for Citizen’s Advice and a member of the local Village Hall Management Committee, she runs a small local arts practice and is part of the Silverdale and Arnside Art and Craft Trail, and the Loving Earth project, which helps people to engage with the climate crisis creatively through textiles.
During the pandemic, Sue volunteered with the Yealand Support Group to deliver low-cost, high-quality meals produced by the local pub.
With her past experience of local government and the planning system, Sue indicated during the election campaign that if elected, she would like to improve environmental standards for buildings, retain and improve green spaces, and encourage social housing.
“I have the time, skills and local knowledge to do a good job as your City Councillor,” she said. “I like what the Greens do and the way they work – listening and encouraging cross-party co-operation.
“Like so many of you, I am increasingly concerned about climate and ecological breakdown, and want to do what I can to help everyone live more sustainably. I am worried too about the cost of living crisis and its impacts on local people. I want to find ways to support people which do not worsen the climate crisis.”
There are now a record number of Greens on Lancaster City Council after three Eco-Socialist Independent councillors decided to join the party earlier this year, Sue’s election bringing the total to 15.
Lancaster City Council now comprises 16 Labour councillors, 15 Green Party, nine Conservatives, four Liberal Democrats, plus Independents.
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THE RESULTS
Warton (Lancaster) council by-election result:
GRN: 65.7% (+32.8)
CON: 24.6% (-22.7)
LAB: 6.4% (-13.5)
LDEM: 3.3% (+3.3)
Votes cast: 688 | Source: Britain Elects